Influential Woman · Government Contracting | Consulting | Operations Management
Brenda Faust-Thomas, IQSM-C
Founder and CEO, Octo
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Her Story
About Brenda
Brenda Faust-Thomas, IQSM-C, is a government contracting professional, operations consultant, and entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience leading complex federal, healthcare, and enterprise-level programs. She is the Founder and CEO of BFT Consulting and Natural Scentiments, where she provides strategic consulting, operational leadership, and wellness product development. Her work spans government agencies and contractors, including CMS, GSA, USDA, FAA, and the Department of the Navy, with a strong focus on governance, compliance, program execution, and organizational alignment. She also serves as a Fractional Chief Operating Officer, supporting organizations that require senior-level operational structure without full-time executive staffing.
Brenda began her career in healthcare, ultimately rising to Chief Operating Officer for a major health insurance organization, where she led operations, built executive teams, and drove significant organizational growth. She later transitioned into federal contracting, where she played a key leadership role in CMS’s nationwide ICD-9 to ICD-10 transition, coordinating training and stakeholder engagement across all state Medicaid agencies and U.S. territories. She continued her government work as a governance lead supporting GSA systems, overseeing compliance, change management, performance reporting, and operational improvement initiatives. These experiences established her reputation for execution excellence, systems thinking, and leadership in high-accountability environments.
In addition to her consulting and federal work, Brenda is deeply committed to entrepreneurship and community impact. She operates Natural Scentiments, a health and wellness skincare brand recognized for supporting internship opportunities and workforce development in Virginia. She also serves as Regional Director for the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce (Northern Virginia region) and is actively involved in professional organizations such as PMI. Grounded in Christian values, she emphasizes education, discipline, and self-sufficiency, and is currently pursuing certification as a Christian Life Coach while expanding her fractional COO practice to help organizations strengthen structure, accountability, and sustainable performance.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Brenda
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to consistent leadership, strong performance, and a commitment to hard work throughout my career. The values instilled in me by my parents, especially around education and self-sufficiency, have played a major role in shaping my path. I also credit my ability to communicate effectively, manage stakeholders, and lead complex operations. Above all, my faith and what I believe to be a God-given strength in leadership have guided me throughout my journey.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received came from my parents, particularly my father. He taught me the importance of education and the necessity of being able to take care of myself independently. I was encouraged never to rely on someone else for my stability or future, and to always prioritize building my own capabilities and career foundation.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would advise young women to be very intentional about the path they want to take. Focus and discipline are essential. It’s important to think ahead about where you want to be in the next five years and build toward that goal step by step.
I also emphasize the importance of networking and maintaining relationships. Every connection matters, and you never know when someone may become a key part of your professional journey. I encourage women not to become complacent—always look for the next step forward. Sometimes growth requires a lateral move before a forward one, and that is completely okay as long as it is strategic and intentional.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges right now is that organizations are reducing costs and restructuring, which creates pressure on teams and operations. However, this environment also creates strong opportunities for fractional executive leadership roles, such as fractional COO services.
Companies are increasingly seeking experienced leaders who can step in and stabilize operations without the cost of full-time executive hires. At the same time, businesses must also navigate supply chain and vendor disruptions, which can impact operations in both government contracting and small business environments.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are education, hard work, self-sufficiency, leadership, and faith. I also place a strong emphasis on building meaningful relationships and maintaining a strong professional network. My work and personal life are guided by Christian principles and a commitment to service, integrity, and continuous growth.
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